Marriage License

Applications are accepted by appointment only from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
We do not take walk-ins.

WHEN AND WHERE DO WE APPLY?Wisconsin residents who will be getting married in Wisconsin must apply at the County Clerk's Office in the County where one of the applicants has lived for the past 30 days.

If the applicants are getting married in Wisconsin, but NEITHER of them have lived in Wisconsin for the past 30 days, they must apply in person in the County where the ceremony will be performed.

The license is only good for 30 days and there is a 5 day waiting period before the license can be issued. (The license will be mailed or available for pick-up on the 6th day.) Buffalo County requires appointments and does not take walk-ins. PLEASE CALL 608-685-6209 TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT. We do not accept walk-in customers.

INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS NEEDED:(All documents must be in English or translated to English.)

1. Both applicants must provide a certified copy of their birth certificate. The birth certificate cannot have pictures of footprints on them or pictures of the hospital, as these are hospital certificates not birth certificates. If the birth certificate is in any language other than English it must be translated and certified.

2. Both applicants must provide photo identification. Examples would be a driver's license or passport.

3. Both applicants must provide proof of current address of where the applicant(s) lived for the past 30 days. This can be a driver's license, ID card, bank statement, or bill with current address.

4. If either applicant was previously married, they must show how the marriage ended and what date it ended on. Examples would be certified death certificates or certified copies of divorce papers. If the previous marriage ended via divorce 6 months must have passed since the final divorce date before the applicant can remarry.

5. Both applicants must provide their Social Security numbers.

6. Applicants must provide the date the ceremony will take place and where it will take place (city, village or town name). They must also provide the name, address and phone number of the person performing the ceremony.

MININMUM AGE TO MARRYNo one under the age of 16 can get married in Wisconsin regardless of the circumstances. An applicant between the ages of 16 and 18 must obtain the consent of his/her parents or legal guardians. Legal guardians must be present at the time of the application and must provide proof of custody.

CAN I GET MARRIED IN THE COURTHOUSE?Our Judge does not perform marriages. We do have names of individuals that perform marriages. Please call 608-685-6209 for those names.

FEES:The marriage license fee is $75.00. If we need to reprint the license after the time of your appointment for any reason there is a reprint fee of $5.00. There are no refunds and we cannot accept out-of-state checks. Payments can be made by cash, local check or credit card (there is an additional fee to use a credit card).